September 30, 2024, 4:52 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
As responsible dog owners, we should always carry a poop bag for our pets’ excrement. However, sometimes, we run out of bags unexpectedly and suddenly find ourselves without one. PETBOOK author and dog owner Nina Ponath reveals what you can do in this situation.
As a dog owner, you often don’t think about certain things until it’s too late. This certainly includes considering alternatives to poop bags. Just the other day, my dog Rudi chose to do his business on the side of a busy street in my town – right beside a nicely paved tree and squarely on the asphalt.
In Rudi’s defense, he had a stomach bug that day. Even before that, he had stopped in the most unlikely places to relieve himself. I will spare you from a description of the consistency of his poop. This is precisely why I found myself standing there without a bag, feeling utterly unprepared. As soon as I frantically rummaged in my bag, looking for a bag, an elderly gentleman turned to look at us with a scowl. “Yes, yes, I’ll get rid of it,” I said. The real question was: how?
Overview
What should I do if I don’t have a poop bag with me (anymore)?
Before you even consider walking away, it’s important to note that failing to clean up dog poop is a punishable offense in some states for a good reason: the poop is not only annoying for pedestrians who may step in it but also unhealthy. Dog excrement can contain potential pathogens, parasites, and worms that pose a health risk, especially for children.
It is, therefore, always important to remove dog poo, regardless of whether your dog has left it in the field, on the sidewalk, or on the asphalt. Keep in mind that not everyone is a dog enthusiast, and by cleaning up, you can foster greater acceptance of your dog. To ensure harmonious coexistence, cleaning up after your dog and always carrying extra bags is essential.
If you find yourself without poop bags, here are a few poop bag alternatives:
Option 1: Take a stick and get rid of it
Simple and quick: find a stick at the roadside and nudge the poop aside to keep pedestrians and others safe.
Option 2: Ask other dog owners for a bag
If you’re a dog owner, you’re likely familiar with this predicament. Most dog owners are, therefore, happy to help out if you ask for a poop bag.
Option 3: It doesn’t necessarily have to be a poop bag
If you can’t find another dog owner to help you out with a bag, you can get creative. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a poop bag; alternatives such as sandwich bags, shopping bags, plastic bags for vegetables or similar will do. You can also use a handkerchief.
If your dog has pooped in a shopping area, you can also ask for a bag in the store. Most shopkeepers prefer that you ask for help rather than leave the sidewalk in front of their store littered with dog poop.
Option 4: Go away ashamed … and come back again
If none of this is possible, there’s only one thing to do: leave quickly. In such moments, explanations like “I usually clean it up” won’t suffice. And before there’s a shitstorm here: I usually always get rid of it. Honestly, though, to put things in perspective, dog mess on the grass verge has yet to be fatal.
Especially not if you come back later. You can always do this if you’re not on vacation.
Option 5: Use garbage to remove droppings
If you live in the city, you are usually annoyed by all the garbage lying around in green spaces and on the street. However, this can still be useful. Coffee cups, plastic bags, or packaging film are perfect for collecting and disposing of dog waste. The garbage is also removed at the same time. However, it may initially take some effort to pick up litter left by others – especially if it’s been there for some time.
Are you liable to prosecution if you don’t clean up dog waste?
There is no paragraph in the Animal Protection Act or the State Dogs Act on the correct way to deal with dog poo. However, dog excrement is technically a form of pollution and, as such, can be subject to penalties. Particularly in public places in cities, great care is taken to remove dog droppings. Depending on the municipality, fines of between 50 and 150 euros can be imposed.
Where can I get free poop bags?
Many footpaths offer free dog waste bags. In Hamburg, Budni or DM also offer free poop bags.
After Rudi’s little mishap, I asked at a corner café and was given a bread roll bag. Although I couldn’t really clean up the mess completely because my dog had diarrhea, I’m still glad that I did it. It was important to demonstrate to onlookers that not all dog owners are inconsiderate and neglect to clean up after their pets. Owning a dog requires responsibility, not just towards the pet but also towards fellow citizens.
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Conclusion
Dog owners should always clean up after their dogs and have at least one poop bag with them. However, sometimes things turn out differently than expected. In this case, you should ask other dog owners for help.
If you can’t find anyone who can help you with a poop bag, you can also get inventive and use alternatives such as a bag, a handkerchief or even garbage lying around. You should always clean up your dog’s mess. By doing so, you help foster a harmonious coexistence between dog owners and those without canine companions.